LESSON: Introduction to the Holocaust: One Day Lesson GRADE LEVEL: Adaptable for grades 7–12 SUBJECT: Multidisciplinary TIME REQUIRED: Approximately 60 minutes This is a foundational lesson that introduces key concepts and information to students.
RATIONALE The Holocaust was a watershed event in human history that involved millions of people across the globe. This lesson provides an introduction to the Holocaust by defining the term and highlighting the story of one Holocaust survivor, Gerda Weissmann. NOTE: This lesson is designed as a one-class period introduction to the Holocaust for educators with limited time. Lessons that expand on themes presented are noted in extensions.
This lesson plan and accompanying materials are available in Spanish on the Museum’s website.
OVERVIEW
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS ● What was the Holocaust? ● What was the experience of one young girl in the Holocaust? ● What questions can help students begin to understand the Holocaust? ● How does annotation help you make a personal and critical connection to text? EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES At the end of this lesson, students understand: ● The purposes and techniques of annotation by examining text closely and critically ● The definition of the word Holocaust ● Some of the different experiences people had during the Holocaust ● Answers to frequently asked questions ● Where to learn more at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum's website TEACHER PREPARATION ● Preview film clip of Holocaust survivor Gerda Weissmann Klein and her husband, Kurt Klein, sharing their experiences of liberation and meeting for the first time. ● Holocaust Encyclopedia article “Introduction to the Holocaust” ● Preview Frequently Asked Questions about the Holocaust. ● Survivor story: ID Card of Gerda Weissmann (online) or PDF to print (Gerda’s card is #40) ● Print/share copies of the Student Interactive ○ Sample Annotated Definition for teachers ○ Access for students to additional online ID cards or PDFs to print of individual profiles
Introduction to the Holocaust | 1